Two Soccer Buffs Named To All-Pac-12 Second Team
SAN FRANCISCO – University of Colorado senior Tori Cooper and sophomore Brie Hooks earned spots on the women’s soccer All-Pac-12 Conference Second Team, the league announced Tuesday.
This is the first all-conference honor for Cooper and second for Hooks, who was selected to the Freshman Team last season. Hooks was also recently honored as College Sports Madness All-Pac-12 Conference First Team selection.
Cooper, a forward from Torrance, Calif. transitioned from offense to defense during her senior season and made quite an impact each week on the pitch. She competed in all 20 matches, starting 19 and played in eight contests from start to finish. Cooper helped lead the Buffs’ strong back line to 11 shutouts, including a record-breaking five against Pac-12 opponents. It was the first time in program history Colorado held five conference teams scoreless in a single season since CU joined the Pac-12 in 2011 and third consecutive year the Buffs had at least eight clean sheets overall. Cooper was named to the UNLV Nike Invitational All-Tournament Team earlier this season helping Colorado take second place in the four-team tournament. She also earned Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week honors after the Buffs shut out then-No. 23 USC 1-0 on the road and limited top ranked UCLA to a season-low three shots on goal in the same weekend. Cooper contributed on offense as well scoring two goals. She recorded her first goal of her Colorado career in CU’s 2-1 victory over in-state rival Denver and added her second in the Buffs’ Pac-12 opener against then-No. 12 California.
Hooks, a forward from Maple Valley, Wash., followed up her stellar debut season with another impressive year in black and gold. During her sophomore campaign, she started all 20 matches, tied her career-high with eight goals while setting a new personal best with six assists, 22 points and 56 shots. In Colorado’s sophomore offensive record book, she ranks first in points, tied for second in goals, third in shots and tied for fourth in assists. She also earned a spot on the UNLV Nike Invitational All-Tournament team with a combined three shots and two on frame in two matches, helping Colorado pick up its first road win of the year. Hooks tallied three game-winners in 2014, which was tied for first among her teammates, recording two of them against Pac-12 opponents. She finished the regular season in the Pac-12’s top seven in assists, goals, points and shots, and led the Buffs in the same respective categories.
Seven Buffaloes have been named to All-Pac-12 teams in school history. Amy Barczuk (2009-12) earned honors two straight years from the Pac-12, first as an honorable mention her junior season, then as a second-team selection during her senior year. In 2012, Madison Krauser was named to the Freshman Team. Last season, a trio of Buffs was selected with Anne Stuller (2010-13) earning a spot on second team, Lizzy Herzl (2010-13) an honorable mention and Hooks on the Freshman Team.
Colorado hosts the BYU Cougars in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Prentup Field on Saturday, Nov. 15 at noon MT. Tickets can be purchased online at cubuffs.com, by calling 303-49-BUFFS or at the gate. Admission for adults is $7, students, seniors (55+) and children (under 12) can get in for $3 and tickets for children (5 years and younger) are $1 each.